India will have a better chance in upcoming World Cups if they find two all-rounders: Sunil Gavaskar

As back-to-back World Cups are on cards, it is a no-brainer that team India will be all raring to end the ICC trophy drought. The former India cricketer Sunil Gavaskar has thus pointed the one department the side needs to work on in order to dominate the proceedings in the mega-events.

The batting legend who was a part of the Indian setup who won the 1983 World Cup also opened up on playing in the English conditions then. India last won an ICC title back in 2013 when the team defeated England to win the Champions Trophy. Ever since then, the team has reached close on many occasions but somehow couldn’t win the illustrious trophy.

According to Gavaskar, the team has to find potential all-rounders who can change the fortunes of the game from any given situation. He further added that 1983, 2007, and 2011 World Cup-winning teams had many all-rounders in their setup which helped India to take command of the game.

In terms of the all-rounders, the Indian team doesn’t possess a lot of options currently. Hardik Pandya has been unable to make a larger impact with both the bat and the ball lately and is rehabilitating at the NCA. Shardul Thakur on the other has been quite promising whereas Venkatesh Iyer though has exuded his flair in the IPL, is yet to be tested at the highest level.

If India can find two all-rounders, then we will have a better chance: Sunil Gavaskar

“It was a squad of 14 players and one manager and we conquered the cricketing world. There were no field restrictions then, no limitations on the number of bouncers too and the red ball in English conditions which hardly stopped moving even after the shine was gone.

That team was full of all-rounders and that is the key especially in limited-overs cricket. Even the 2007 and 2011 teams had batsmen who could bowl and bowlers who were no bunnies with the bat. If India can find two all-rounders, then we will have a better chance in the T20 World Cup in Australia in 2022 and in the 50 overs Cup at home in India in 2023,” Gavaskar said while writing in his column for Mid-Day.